[Management of total laboratory system and its efficacy]

The Osaka City University Hospital was reopened in May 1993. In the Central Clinical Laboratory our Total Laboratory Automation System, a comprehensive online analyzing system, covers the entire process from collecting blood to completing tests. Our study showed that an average of 2,800 outpatients were examined per day in 1994, compared with 1,900 per day in 1992, an increase of 47.4%. The number of tests performed by the central laboratory in 1994 was 5,610,000 as compared to 3,720,000 in 1992, an increase of 50.8%. After the installation of the transport line and computerization the following can be noted: 1) We were able to extend reception hours by two hours. 2) We are now able to assign lab medical technologists to physiology analysis, emergency analysis, and initial outpatient testing. We conclude that these effects have been very large.